Questions about Chlamydia

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Its presence is difficult to detect as it usually has no symptoms.  

How is Chlamydia spread?

Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal or oral sex; it can infect the sexual organs, rectum or throat.  Chlamydia is probably the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world.  About one in twenty people aged between 15 and 20 will get Chlamydia at some point.

• You cannot catch Chlamydia from activities such as swimming or by sharing a bath towel with someone who is infected.
• You cannot catch Chlamydia from toilet seats or doorknobs, or from sharing cups, plates, knives, forks, spoons, toothbrushes, bedding or clothing.
• You cannot catch Chlamydia by hugging and kissing.

How infectious is Chlamydia?

Because Chlamydia is sexually transmitted there is always a risk that it will spread each time an infected person has sex. Chlamydia tends to infect women more than men. Barrier methods of contraception such as condoms will avoid spreading infection, but only if used properly.

What are the symptoms?

Infected women may notice more discharge than normal from the vagina. This is caused by the neck of the womb (cervix) becoming inflamed.  There may be pain or stinging when passing urine if the urinary canal (urethra ) is inflamed.  If blood is seen around the genital area (often after sex) the cervix may be infected. However as many as three out of every four women with Chlamydia have no symptoms, or have symptoms so mild that they are not troubled by them.  In men, the urethra (the tube that carries urine and sperm down the penis) becomes inflamed, this causes pain or stinging when they pass urine.  Men may also experience a discharge from the penis.  This is usually white or cloudy and is most common first thing in the morning. Men usually flush it out when they pass urine. This discharge may look like 'cotton threads'; however some men have no symptoms at all.  If the throat or rectum is infected you will not normally notice any symptoms.

Chlamydia testing

This is a simple procedure which may be done either by taking a urine sample or preferably a cervical swab, which is similar to having a routine smear test. If you do attend for a test, please advise us if you have taken antibiotics in the last three days. If the test is positive, you will be given a short course of antibiotics.

How is Chlamydia treated?

Chlamydia is treated with antibiotic drugs which destroy the Chlamydia bacteria in your body.  Because Chlamydia bacteria grow very slowly, you need to take most antibiotics for at least one week and normally for two weeks, this will ensure that all of the germs are killed as they become active.  However, some of the more modern antibiotics are just as effective in a single dose. Not all antibiotics treat Chlamydia, for instance Penicillin, the most well known antibiotic, does not.

Can Chlamydia come back?

If you are prescribed the right medication and take it correctly, you will almost always be cured, however, if you have had Chlamydia once it does not mean that you won't get it again. If you do develop Chlamydia again, it is most likely that it will be a new infection.

Complications

Chlamydia infection, left untreated, can sometimes lead to complications, though these are not very common.  In women, Chlamydia can spread from the cervix (neck of womb) up into the womb and from there into the fallopian tubes and pelvis.  This produces a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (P.I.D.). Chlamydia is not the only cause of P.I.D. however it is found in over half of all cases.

Inflammation in the fallopian tubes can cause them to become fully or partially blocked by scar tissue, this can effect fertility.  If you do become pregnant, the growing embryo can be trapped in the tube (ectopic pregnancy). This is a very dangerous condition which is usually treated by surgical removal of the fallopian tube and embryo.

In men, if the infection reaches the testicles, it can produce scar tissue and block the sperm ducts which can lead to infertility. Although initially there may be no symptoms, if infection sets in, it can induce fever, and cause pain and swelling in the testicles.

A few people with Chlamydia suffer from inflamed joints, they can also get eye problems, inflammation of the urethra and skin rashes. This condition is called 'Reiters Syndrome'.